Vehicle-tire.



APPLICATION FILED DEC-28,19I2.

l. R. VICKERY. VEHICLE TIRE.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

i PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C.

VEHICLE-TIRE.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

e it known that 1, JOHN R. VIoKnRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi cago, in t e county of Cook and State of llinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Vehicle-Tires, the following is a specification.

relates to improvements in for automobiles and other vehicles, notably, motor trucks; and has for main object to provide a practical, economical and durable substitute for the pneumatic and solid rubber tires commonly employed to alford a cushion tread for such wheels, and which shall be capable of application to standard makes and sizes of wheels.

y present invention, which is in the naf an improvement upon the subject matter of an application filed by me on the 13th day of July, 1912, Serial No. 709,209, relates to that general class of spring tires which employ a series of radially reason of various object had in view in the development of formed the outward movement of the plunlimiting Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 28, 1912.

, 'orging; but difli any appre I ger. Such integral be very simplv and or one-piece plunger can cheaply mad culties of a-SSBIDblIH have heretofore rendered the use of ger impracticable.

y my present invention I am able to use an integral or countering any and this I accomplish, of the invention, by making ing-block of the pl as preventing the loss of lubricant bv keepigure 1 is a side elevational view, partly wheel equi pad with the improved tire of my invention.

view, partly in elevation, gitudinal section, in difierent vertical planes to fully illustrate different features in the rim and internal structure of vation of one of the ing-block constituting in the main one of the separable units of the structure.

e erring to the drawings, 1 designates the hub, 2 the spokes, and 3 the felly of the wheel, which parts may be all as usual in automobile and like wheels, except for modifications of the felly to accommodate the central row of plungers, as hereinafter referred to. The rim, which is mounted directly on the telly 3, is a hollow boxdike structure, comprising essentially an inner rim- Patented May 11, 1915. Serial No. 738,995.

band 4E preferably in a single piece shrunk on the felly, a pair of annular side-plates 5, and a series of individual bearing-blocks 3 that are grouped side by side in longitudinal and transverse rows and unitedly make up the outer peripheral wall or band of the hollow rim. The annular side-plates 5 extend width-wise from the outer sectional periphery inwardly past the inner edges of the inner rim-band 4 to points opposite and slightly inwardly of the inner periphery of the telly 3. Fitted to the inner periphery of the felly 3 is another sectional band compris ing a series of curved sections 7 of a width equal to that of the rim-band 4: and notched at their ends to straddle the spokes 2, as shown at 8 in Fig. 1. The sections 7 of this inner band are formed with channel flanges 9 that seat the inner edges of the side-plates 5, and are securely tied to the latter by through-bolts 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Disposed inwardly'of and arallel with the side-plates 5 is a pair of intermediate annular partition plates 11, the inner edges of which are ii the rim-band 1, while their outer edges project flush with the outer edges of the side-plates 5. I may also employ an additional pair of annular plates 11 similar to the plates 11 but lying against and constituting inner linings for the main rim side-plates 5, the outer edges of said liner plates 11 being confined by short inner lateral flanges 12 on said rim side-plates 5. The side plates 5 are preferably further provided with substantial outer lateral flanges 13 constituting, with the outer edges of the intermediate partition plates the extreme outer periphery of the hollow rim, and serving to come in contact with the surface of the road under an extreme or full compression of the plungers hereinafter described, and thus save said plungers front the injurious results of extreme shocks and abnormally severe road conditions.

The bearing-blocks 6 of the two outer longitudinal rows are con ned between the annular plates 11 and 11 on each side of the rim structure, as clearly shown in'Fig. 2, while the intermediate longitudinal row of bearing-blocks is similarly confined between the two intermediate annular partition plates 11. These bearing-blocks are preferably made in mating halves 6 and 6", as shown and are rigidly locked in their respective positions in the structure by means of a series of transverse clamp-bolts 1.4 that engage semi-circular grooves 15 in opposite sides of the bearing-blocks, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5; each of said clamp-bolts lying between two adjacent transverse rows of bearing-blocks, as shown in Fig. 3. Each end of the bolt 1 1 is threaded and receives a washer 16 and a clamp-nut The bearingblocks 6 are centrally bored to receive the individual plungers, each of which latter consists preferably of an integral structure comprising a plunger-hea 18 and a plunger-stem consisting of an outer relatively w1de portion 19 slidable in-the bearing block, an intermediate narrow portion 20, and an inner still narrow portion 21 This inner narrow portion 21 'of the stem is slidably mounted in a bushing or wearsleeve 22 fitted to an aperture in the inner rim-band a; and, in the case of the outer row of plungers, it also engages a sleeve or thimble 23 disposed within an annular lubricantchamber 2d located on either side of the felly 3, and normally forced outwardly by a spring 25 engaging the inner band 7- and a shoulder or flange 26 on the outer end of the thimble or sleeve 23. The inner end of the thimble 23 has a hole 27 formed therethrough, and each plunger-stem has an axial bore 28 forming a lubricant-duct that communicates at its outer end with lateral ducts to the bearing of the plungerbearing-block 6, whereby to a ford an ample supply of lubricant to said bearing as each plunger travels throughout the lower l revolution of the wheel. The felly 3 is also radially socketed to provide a lubricant space 30 for the intermediate row of plunger-stems, the space 30 communicating with the main lubricantchambers on either side thereof by lateral ducts 31, and preferably having a meta lining 32. The intermediate partition plates 11 divide the space bounded by the annular side-plates 5, or their linings 11 when employed, and the inner and outer rim-bands into three annular chambers which accommodate the main cushioning springs 33 of the plungers. These springs abut at their inner ends against the outer ends of the inner bearing members 22, while their outer ends engage co lars 3 that surround the intermediate portions 20 of the plungerstems, and also form stops limiting the outward movement of the plungers. These collars, in the preferred form of the invention, are formed integral with the plungerstems themselves, and preferably have on sides non-metallic washers 35 designed to deaden the sound of the impact of the collars against the f the bearing-blocks when the plungers are released from load and shot outwardly by the cushioning springs. By making the bearing-blocks 6 in mating halves 6 and 6 as shown, it is entirely feasible to employ a plunger having an integral head and spring abutment and stop without creating any difficulties in assembling. Between the intermediate and inner portions of the plunger-stem is formed an annular shoulder 3 1 that acts as a stop to limit the inward movement of the plunger under load.

The lubricating means herein shown does not constitute any part of my present invention, the same being disclosed and claimed in my former application hereinabove referred to; and, in my present construction, in lieu thereof I may introduce lubricant into the outer ing the main cushioning springs 33, whence the lubricant will readily work its way into both the inner and outer bearings of the plunger-stems.

11 order to prevent rattling of the plunger-stems in th bearing-blocks 6 which may result from excessive wear, I provide means for continuously holding the plunger-stems against lateral vibration, said and preventing its escape to tent structure. for securing these ends as applied to each transverse row of plungers is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and d intermediate partition and liner plates 11 and 11", respectively, and overlies the outer surfaces of the plunger-bearing-blocks 6. This follower-bar 36 is formed with t ree semi-circular notches 38 that are shaped to an exact bearing upon ing portions of the plunger-stems. of the bar 36 remote is slightly inclined from its center (1, as cl said inclined edge portions are engaged by wedges 39 also inserted through the slots 37 behind the follower-bar 36. Slots 37 are, of course, of sufficient length to accommoate a gradual movement of the followerbar toward the plunger-stems as wear occurs between the two; and to keep the follower-bar in snug contact with the plungerstems at all times, I preferably force the wedges 39 constantly inwardly by means of compression springs 40 that are confined between the outer ends of the wedges and the washers 16 of the clamp-bolts 14, as clearly This silencing and be applied inwardly 6 in lieu of outwardly thereof as shown, if desired.

From the described readily be seen how the main ob ects and adin. In the event that one of the cushioning springs should break, or any other accident occur requiring the wi hdrawal of a broken its replacement by a part, by simply withdrawing the nuts d washers of two ad' and partially retracting said roken unit consisting of th main bearing-block, and spring can be readily withdrawn and new 5 similar parts substituted, the operation re plates, nuts on quiring but a few moments ing of the bearing-block 6 in mating halves also makes possible the use of integral or one-piece plungers, as described, since the bearing-blocks can be readily positioned around the plungers after the l themselves een assembled in the ture; and with the fastening means described, the making of the bearing-blocks in two parts in no wise weakens the structure.

e invention, however, is by no means limited to a multi-part bearing-block, but an integral bearing-block is fully within the scope and purview thereof. It will also be noted that th lar movement oft Vhile I h bodiment of e wheels in steering. ave described one practical emmy invention, I do not limit to the ing through the blocks and said side-plates and securing said bearing-blocks in place in the rim structure, and spring-pressed plungers slidably mounted in said bearing-blocks.

2. In a vehicle tire structure, nation of outer sectional rim rality of bearing-blocks disposed side by side etween said side plates and their adjacent transverse sides, clamp-bolts threaded on each end extending through the grooves of said bearing-blocks and-said sideboth ends of said clamp-bolts permitting the withdrawal of the latter from either side of the rim structure, and springpressed plungers slidably mounted in said bearing-blocks.

3. In a tion of mounted on said inner rim band, an outer sectional rim band comprising a plurality of rectangular bearing-blocks arranged side by side between said side-plates and time. The mak partition plate and &

grooved on their adjacent transverse sides, clamp-bolts extending through the grooves of said bearing-blocks and said side-plates and partition plate and securing said bearing-blocks in place in the rim structure, and spring-pressed plungers slidably mounte in said bearing-blocks.

4. In a vehicle tire structure, the combination of a rim formed with radial bearings in its outer periphery, spring-pressed plungers slidably mounted in said bearings, an means for taking up wear and preventing rattling of said plungers in their bearings comprising followers overlying the outer periphery of said rim and fitted to and engaging one side of said plungers adjacent to one end of said bearings, and means for forcing said followers against said plungers.

5. In a vehicle tire structure, the combination of a rim formed with radial bearings in its outer periphery, spring-pressed plungers slidably mounted in said bearings, and means for taking up wear and preventing rattling of said plungers in their bearings comprising followers overlying crosswise the outer periphery of said rim and fitted to and engaging one side of said plungers adjacent to one end of said bearings, and springs constantly urging said followers against said plungers.

6. In a vehicle tire structure, the combination of a channel rim, a plurality of individual bearing-blocks arranged side by side in circumferential and transverse rows within and unitedly forming an outer peripheral wall for said rim, means for securing said bearing-blocks in place, a corresponding series of spring-pressed plungers slidably mounted in said bearing-blocks, and means for taking up wear and preventing rattling of said plungers in said bearing-blocks comprising follower-bars arranged transversely of said rim and overlying one end of said bearing-blocks, each of said follower-bars having notches in one edge thereof engaging one side of a transverse row of plungers,

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the and wedge members backing said followerbars and acting to force the latter snugly against said plungers.

7. Ina vehicle tire structure, the combination of a channel rim having slotted sidewalls and slotted intermediate partition plates, a plurality of individual bearingblocks arranged side by side in circumferential and transverse rows between said side-walls andpartition plates and unitedly forming an outer peripheral wall for said rim, means for securing said bearing-blocks in place, a corresponding series of springpressed plungers slidably mounted in said bearing-blocks, transversely disposed follower-bars mounted in the slots of said sidewalls and partition plates and overlying one end of said bearing-blocks, each of said follower-bars having notches in one edge thereof engaging one side of a transverse row of plungers, transversely disposed wedge members also mounted in said slots and engaging the opposite edge of said followerbars, and springs operating to continuously force said wedge members inwardly and thereby crowd said follower-bars against said plungers.

8. In a vehicle tire, the combination with a channel rim, of a plurality of integral or one-piece spring-pressed plungers eac formed with a head on its outer end and an intermediate annular projection or shoulder forming a spring abutment and a stop limiting the outward movement of the plunger, a plurality of independently removable bearing-blocks for said plungers assembled side by side between the side-walls of said rim, each of said bearing-blocks comprising mating sections embracing a plunger-stem between said plunger-head and annular projection, and means for securing said bearing-blocks rigidly in place.

JOHN R. VICKERY.

Witnesses:

JoYcn M. LUTZ,; SAMUEL N. Pom).

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

